Words: Karl Johnson | Photo credit: Zackery Michael
It’s interesting to analyse the Arctic Monkeys ‘comeback’ after four years, being one of Britain’s biggest exports would normally mean more of a distant feeling between the fans and the band’s output, but from their most recent LP ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’ to new single ‘There’d Better Be A Mirrorball’, we seem to be getting strangely closer to the inner workings of Arctic Monkeys’ creative process.
From drummer Matt Helders’ photograph being used (see below) as the album cover for their recently announced album ‘The Car’ – set to be released October 21st – to Alex Turner self-directing the music video, we gain an insight into how they see the world surrounding their seventh studio record evolving – the recording of ‘The Car’ also took place in rural Suffolk.
Fans of Alex Turner’s solo EP and soundtrack to the Richard Ayoade-directed film ‘Submarine’ will find a lot to love in the intimacy of ‘There’d Better Be A Mirrorball’, as will fans of The Last Shadow Puppets – producer James Ford seemingly helping to merge the many worlds and intricate visions of the Arctic Monkeys songwriter.
If ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’ marked Turner’s fascination with the theatrical, over the top nature of American culture and show business, perhaps the suspended wash of strings and the measured Ralph Vaughan Williams-esque pastoral sound acts as an ode to his home country.
‘The Car’ arrives October 21st via Domino Records.
hardofhearingmagazine.com 